Baoting’s Durian Sector Makes Progress Amid Challenges

According to a report from Hainan Daily, Baoting County, located near the southernmost tip of China’s tropical island province of Hainan, has actively embraced high-efficiency agricultural practices in recent years, selecting durians in particular as one of its key fruits for cultivation.

Baoting is situated at a similar latitude to the main durian-producing regions of Southeast Asia, with an annual average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of 81.3%. These conditions, combined with abundant sunshine, create an ideal environment for growing durians. Furthermore, Baoting’s mountainous terrain provides excellent drainage, helping to prevent issues such as root rot caused by waterlogging.

In addition to its favorable natural conditions, Baoting also benefits from rich genetic resources. The region is home to a 66-year-old durian tree, the oldest known durian tree in China, which still blooms and bears fruit through artificial pollination. Currently, Baoting has a durian cultivation area of 700 hectares, accounting for approximately one-quarter of Hainan’s total. Meanwhile, the fruit-bearing area for durians in the county has surpassed 90 hectares, representing one-third of the province’s total. According to local growers, the market price of Baoting durians ranges from 120 to 140 Chinese yuan ($16.57–19.33) per kilogram, with demand continuing to outstrip supply.

Compared with durians imported from Southeast Asia, which are typically harvested when they are 60–70% ripe and continue ripening during transportation, China’s domestically grown durians, harvested fully ripe from the tree, are sweeter and more aromatic and feature a softer, more glutinous texture. They also reach consumers more quickly and in fresher condition. In June 2024, the local government officially launched a public brand for Baoting durians, marking the beginning of a new development phase for the local durian sector.

Hainan Daily further pointed out that despite the progress made in durian cultivation in Baoting, the commercialization of China’s domestic durians still faces several challenges, including threats from natural disasters, insufficient financial support, inconsistent fruit quality and an incomplete industrial chain. Thus, there is an urgent need to accelerate efforts across various sectors and coordinate development.

Image: Pexels

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.